Amphiuma means Garden, 1821

Taxonomic Status

Two-toed amphiumas (Amphiuma means Garden, 1821) are the largest prominent member of the Amphiumidae family, and the longest salamander species found in the United States.

Size & Weight

Their mass ranges from 39 to 1,042 g (1.4 to 36.8 oz), and their length ranges from 34.8 to 116 cm (13.7 to 45.7 in).

Limb Structure

They have four vestigial legs, each ending in two toes; toe count is one of the primary differences that separate this species from its relatives, the one-toed and three-toed amphiumas.

Genetic Research Background

Additional genetic studies have been carried out on all three amphiuma species.

Genetic Distance Relationships

Estimates of genetic distance indicate high levels of similarity between two-toed amphiumas and three-toed amphiumas, with much greater genetic dissimilarity between one-toed amphiumas and two-toed amphiumas.

Head Morphology

Two-toed amphiumas have a pointed, wedge-shaped head and small eyes.

Gill Slit Trait

Adult individuals retain a single gill slit on each side of the head.

Base Coloration

Their base coloration is black, dark grey, or dark brown, and individuals are typically unicolored.

Dorsal-Ventral Color Contrast

Their dark dorsal side contrasts with their slightly lighter ventral side.

Macrohabitat Types

Two-toed amphiumas inhabit shallow, heavily vegetated water bodies including swamps, bayous, lakes, and ponds, as well as wet prairies.

Elevation Distribution

They are most often found below the fall line, but occasionally occur in low sandy pine hills.

Microhabitat Prey Overlap

Their microhabitats largely overlap with areas of high prey availability.

Burrowing Substrate Requirement

They require habitats with light soil that allows them to burrow.

Geographic Range

Their natural range covers southeastern Virginia, eastern North Carolina, South Carolina, southern Georgia and Alabama, Florida, southern Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and southeastern Texas.